The potential for change

Are we able to find a simple method for measuring change? In Aristotle's metaphysics change is the first problem, it was how things can change and yet keep the same identity. For me change is a potential, physical things have a small potential for change as they are guided by the laws of motion. However there is a strange law within physics, that is the second law of thermodynamics, in my terms, it is the law that all energy dissipates. Some think of entropy, the term for measuring the amount of change, as being order to disorder, some think of it as energy becoming it's most likely state. I think of it as energy being used then becoming less useful, or becoming harder to turn back into useful energy.

To frame change should be the goal of every metaphysician, to provide a paradigm from which we understand the potential for change. If we look at existence in terms of the whole universe there is very little change, all the galaxies are slowly moving outwards from a centre. Then if we look at existence up close to an individual atom, again there is little change, sure the electrons are buzzing about and maybe the protons and neutrons are exchanging energy, it's all simple change. To find the most amount of change you must look at human action and also objects having their atoms moved about. In short there is a very small window to the amount of change that happens, but still we must learn to understand it.

There is a saying, 'you can never step into the same river twice', the first time I read that it gripped my understanding. Every moment is different, we are able to see how the old has become the new and thanks to Newton understand the laws of motion. What we are yet to understand is how freedom and change interact. When we use our imagination to envisage a brighter future, anything can happen, when we try to plan each day, many things can happen. It seems that human freedom has the biggest affect on the potential for change. Are we able to put human choice into laws? I used to think we could, but in those days I didn't believe in God. God has the power to change, but does he have the freedom to choose? It is my belief that the greater the power the greater the freedom. In my book the potential to change isn't measured by laws, but by the 'purpose' of power.